We’ve come a long way over the last several weeks since we fell in love at the SPCA, Sora-chan. Or at least when your new humans fell in love with you.
Thanks for the cuddle a few minutes ago. . . Goodnight.
Meatless Casserole Will Disappear Quickly
Casserole with three colours of peppers, mushrooms, and Gardein meatless ground. It’s gonna disappear just as fast as one with hamburger in it!
This from a guy who grew up in the day when the family would literally order half a cow processed into steaks, roasts, and ground beef for the chest freezer every year. . .
Assorted Buzzers, Byrne Creek Ravine Park, Burnaby
A leisurely stroll with the camera this afternoon turned up lots of bees and wasps.
Byrne Creek Photo Ramble
Did a solo loop of the creek and ravine this afternoon, giving me plenty of time to dawdle and shoot photos.
Metro Vancouver Forests & Climate Change at BC Mills House
Yumi and I had a blast visiting the BC Mills House and exploring Lynn Creek at a Metro Vancouver Parks event on forests and climate change. Great displays, and informative and friendly interpreters.
Yumi also spotted water bugs and fry, so that made the day complete 
.
Yumi decided not to pursue a new career fighting forest fires : – )
The rescue folks had a display as well. Gear up, be prepared and let someone know where you’re going!
Yumi in her element exploring Lynn Creek
Success!
Salmonid fry, too!
Water ballet
American Dipper
Dipper dipping. . .
Why dogs don’t fly : – ). Yumi spotted this interesting tree.
Cool fungus with teeny beads of moisture
BC Hydro Byrne Creek Site Meeting > 2-Hour Tour!
BC Hydro approached Byrne Creek Streamkeepers to get a creek orientation.
Folks were so enthusiastic about exploring the creek and ravine today that a 15-minute site meeting turned into a two-hour ramble!
Hydro staff are planning a watershed display and activities during the Rivers Day week in September, and BCSS volunteers will set up our booth and information display at the Hydro building, and perhaps lead a creek tour or two.
We came across this huge banana slug:
Wising Up on Not Needing Daily Shampoo
A friend of mine posted on FB that she was trying a no-shampoo routine to save on plastics and chemicals. She’s going days just rinsing her hair with warm water, and if necessary, a touch of bar soap.
So I thought I’d give it a try. Still showering using my summer water-saving routine — 20 second wet down, turn off water, soap pits ‘n bits ‘n feet, and 20-30 second rinse. No shampoo just quickly massaging hair with warm water during the wet and rinse.
I’m on day five or six now, and to my surprise, I feel fine. I thought my hair and scalp would be itchy and flaky by now, but aside from my (short) hair feeling heavier and oilier, no problem.
It certainly appears that shampooing once, or perhaps twice a week, would work for me, and I’d be reducing plastics use, reducing chemicals down the drain, and saving $$.
This from a guy who has been shampooing daily (except when camping or hiking) for 50 years. . .
UPDATE (minutes later): Just timed myself and the rinse cycle takes more like 40-45 seconds : – ).
UPDATE 2: Another friend says she shampoos twice a month.
Time to Build an Ark?
So I thought I’d go photo hunting for birds and insects down at the Fraser Foreshore Park ponds in south Burnaby just west of Byrne Creek.
This is the first pond west of the outfall of Byrne Creek into the Fraser. Ran into this dyke construction. Thought I’d better go home and start building an Ark. . .
More info in this Burnaby Now story.
Heron Snags Crayfish on Byrne Creek
I observed this heron as it fished the mouth of Byrne Creek in south Burnaby, BC. I was rewarded when it snagged a crayfish.
I watched it stalking for about an hour, and even with a tripod my hands were starting to cramp by the time the action finally started. And it was over in about five seconds 
.
Sora and Midori Hanging Out in the Sun
A lovely day to sit with a friend by the balcony :-).
